Why No Standardization?

[cobaltspectre]

While most things associated with the Dharma Initiative are standardized, in the area of firearms, where standardization would make more sense than usual, the variety is fantastic. I'm not the fanatical viewer I might be; so, perhaps, this has been explained somewhere along the line without me noticing. And, I do know the origin of the one cache of pistols and cartidges recovered from the aircraft. But, I am constantly amazed by the mishmash of firearms (particularly rifles) being carried. Not only do they have no standard type, they have no standard caliber, so they need almost as many types of ammunition, magazines, replacement parts, etc., as they have weapons. And, in a humid, salty environment like the island, parts are most likely to need replacement. (I'll overlook the fact that no one ever seems to perform basic maintenance on them-- that's standard "Hollywood magic").

If one type predominated, I would just assume that the others found their way there from other crashes/shipwrecks, a few people brought their favorite personal weapons with them, etc. But, whenever I've seen large collections of firearms, I've seen the same odd assortment. Usually, Lost has a reason (perhaps hidden, at first) for something that seemingly makes no sense to me; but, rarely, something just plain doesn't make a lick of sense-- period. Does anyone know why island's arsenals have always been so haphazardly stocked?

[Rain13]

I would say you're right when you say that the various guns on the island have all made it there by different means at different types, just like the people on the island, who have all made it there in different ways. With that said, this is Hollywood, and I think something like the authenticity of the firearms is something that is commonly overlooked, particularly on a show like Lost where this is so much other stuff going on that they need to pay attention to.